Peru & Chile: Ancient Paths to the Present Total Solar Eclipse Tour (Northbound) - TravelQuest International
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Peru & Chile: Ancient Paths to the Present Total Solar Eclipse Tour (Northbound)

June 30 - July 10, 2019

Eclipse Tour Destination: Peru & Chile (Northbound)

Journey from Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas to the ancient mountaintop city of Machu Picchu. Explore the rich Inca and Spanish colonial past in historic Cuzco. Enjoy an optional excursion to see the famed Nazca Lines from the air. And as the centerpiece of your adventure, travel to our special viewing site in the foothills of the Andes – close to four of the world’s largest telescopes – to stand for 2 minutes and 15 seconds in th ...Show more

Highlights

  • Special July 2 eclipse viewing outside La Serena, Chile
  • Time to explore colorful colonial Cuzco
  • Scenic rail journey along Urubamba River to Machu Picchu
  • Exclusive overnight near Machu Picchu allowing for both an afternoon and morning visit to this architectural wonder
  • Two nights in exciting Lima, Peru

Arriving in La Serena on the Pacific coast (airport code: LSC), you’re met by our TravelQuest representative, who arranges the easy transfer to your hotel. As you take in this charming city’s famous beaches and distinctive mix of colonial and modern architecture, you’ll immediately understand why it’s one of Chile’s most popular summer destinations. For the balance of the day, relax and explore nearby seaside communities on your own before joining us for a welcome dinner.

DATE(S): Sunday, June 30, 2019

MEALS: Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Mar Ensueno or similar

This morning we discover the historic side of La Serena, Chile’s second-oldest city, strolling with our local expert through the well-preserved central precinct. Set on a bay edged with sandy beaches, this regional capital is known for its pleasant weather – even when we’re visiting at the height of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. After a stroll among colonial-style buildings, we visit La Recova, the main market, where you’ll find a diverse array of artisanal crafts and other uniquely Chilean products. After lunch we carry on to the scenic campus of the University of La Serena, which has splendid panoramic views. At the end of the day, join your TravelQuest astronomer for an informative discussion of photography techniques, eclipse safety and the latest weather updates for tomorrow’s big event.

DATE(S): Monday, July 1, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Mar Ensueno or similar

After a relaxed morning we head off at midday to our expertly chosen viewing site, where you’ll stand in the Moon’s shadow for approximately 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

 


La Serena weather prospects for total solar eclipse viewing

by TravelQuest Eclipse Meteorologist Jay Anderson

The fact that TravelQuest’s eclipse-viewing site is close to four of the world’s largest telescopes – Cerro Tololo, La Silla, Gemini South and Las Campanas – tells you we’re likely to encounter minimal cloud cover, even though the 2019 eclipse falls in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. We’ve selected a site that’s tucked into a protected valley in the Andean foothills. It’s far enough inland to escape any coastal cloudiness that might occur on the big day, and deep enough in the mountains to erode any passing clouds from larger-scale weather systems. Satellite measurements show an average daytime cloudiness of just 35% in July, making our site one of the best in the region. Based on past weather statistics, we know that 25 days of the month are liable to be either sunny or partly cloudy, with most of those clouds in the morning hours, well before the arrival of the lunar shadow.

Visualization by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

DATE(S): Tuesday, July 2, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Mar Ensueno or similar

After an early breakfast, we’re off to La Serena Airport for the flight to Cuzco, ancient capital of the Inca Empire. From there we travel northward, deeper into the Andes, with a stop at the market town of Chinchero to shop for textiles and local crafts while taking in the stunning foothills scenery. Then, after lunch, we carry on to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. At 2,870 m (9,420 ft) above sea level, it’s lower than Cuzco and is considered a good place for acclimatizing to the region’s high altitude.

DATE(S): Wednesday, July 3, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Sonesta Posadas del Inca-Yucay or similar

After an early breakfast, get ready to experience Machu Picchu, the legendary Inca city in the sky. We’re keeping our hotel rooms in Cuzco, so you only need to bring a small travel bag for your overnight excursion. At nearby Ollantaytambo, board our first-class Vistadome train to travel from the Sacred Valley up into the cloud forest, enjoying unmatched views of the peaks through the glass-ceilinged cars. Your 1.5-hour journey ends at Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu, where we arrive in time for lunch at a typical Andes restaurant. We’ve timed our tour of Machu Picchu for later in the afternoon, as many visitors arrive earlier in the day and will already have headed back down the mountain – creating a more enjoyable experience for us. After lunch, a shuttle whisks you up the mountain to the site entrance, where our expert guide is waiting to show you this magnificent Inca city that remained hidden from outsiders for so long. Seeing and photographing firsthand the expansive stone ruins, steep terraces and looming cliffs, it’s easy to understand why Machu Picchu is ranked among the true wonders of human design: the stonework is so well engineered that many walls remain almost perfectly intact after more than five centuries. Following this initial experience of Machu Picchu, we return to Aguas Calientes and our comfortable hotel for the night.

DATE(S): Thursday, July 4, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel or similar

If you’re up for joining us early, ahead of the tourist swell, we offer a second opportunity to explore Machu Picchu – this time in the morning light. Our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and lead you on a fascinating tour exploring other dimensions of the ancient site. Or if you prefer, you can spend the morning at your leisure, exploring the craft market or visiting Aguas Calientes’ hot springs. In the afternoon, enjoy more breathtaking views on the return train ride to Ollantaytambo, concluding another great day back in your room at our Sacred Valley hotel.

DATE(S): Friday, July 5, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Sonesta Posadas del Inca-Yucay or similar

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart in the late morning for Cuzco, passing through the archaeological center of Pisac and enjoying lunch at a restaurant with wonderful views of the Sacred Valley. Continuing our journey, we stop at the magnificent Inca citadel of Sacsayhuaman, whose walls were built using massive stones. It’s an awe-inspiring feat of construction – and the outlooks offer superb views of our final destination: Cuzco. Arriving in late afternoon, you’re free to enjoy dinner and an evening of exploring on your own.

DATE(S): Saturday, July 6, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch

ACCOMMODATION: Cuzco Novotel or similar

You only need to step outside the door of our hotel to discover the historical and cultural legacy of Cuzco – or Q`osqo, “The Navel of the World,” in the Quechua language. As the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th through the 15th centuries, Cuzco was renowned for its palaces, temples and other stone structures. Unfortunately, during the Spanish conquest many of these gems were destroyed and their foundations used for the public buildings and churches we see today – themselves monuments to another bygone age. This dual legacy of Inca and colonial architecture made Cuzco an obvious choice to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Highlights of your morning walking tour include Korikancha, the Incas’ Temple of the Sun and later the site of Santo Domingo Convent, as well as the impressive cathedral overlooking Plaza de Armas in the heart of the city. In the afternoon, stroll the streets of Cuzco at your leisure to shop for interesting keepsakes, sample regional cuisine at one of the many excellent restaurants and just absorb centuries of history in this magnificent city among the peaks.

DATE(S): Sunday, July 7, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION: Cuzco Novotel or similar

Starting the day with an early breakfast, we’re off to Cuzco Airport for the 1.5-hour flight to Lima, Peru’s vibrant capital, where our TravelQuest representative arranges the easy transfer to your hotel. From there we head to a beautiful hacienda for a delicious lunch on the grounds – your first chance to sample Lima’s justly renowned cuisine. In the afternoon, enjoy a classic horse show featuring the Peruvian Paso, whose exceptionally smooth gait the show’s trainers have tuned to perfection – to the point where the horses even take part in a traditional dance.

DATE(S): Monday, July 8, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch

ACCOMMODATION: DoubleTree El Pardo or similar

Your expert-guided tour of Lima begins in the city’s historic central square, which is ringed by the Archbishop’s Palace, Government Palace, City Hall and the imposing Basilica Cathedral. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima was the center of Spanish rule in South America for three centuries. Today its colonial heart is rightly protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your tour also includes a visit to the Convent of Santo Domingo, renowned for its beautiful cloisters and various relics of Santa Rose and San Martin de Porres, Peru’s two most important saints. For the balance of the day, relax and explore Peru’s fascinating capital on your own, prior to a farewell dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

DATE(S): Tuesday, July 9, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: DoubleTree El Pardo or similar

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then make the easy transfer to Lima airport (code: LIM) for your journey homeward or continue with your TravelQuest add-on program to see the famed Nazca Lines.

DATE(S): Wednesday, July 10, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast

Optional Add-ons

Friday, June 28, 2019 & Saturday, June 29, 2019

If you’d prefer to arrive in La Serena a night or two ahead of our eclipse tour, TravelQuest is reserving a limited number of standard rooms at the Mar Ensueno hotel or similar.


Pricing

Cost: $115 USD per person, per night double occupancy; $230 USD per person, per night single occupancy. Rates include room, airport-hotel arrival transfer at LSC, as well as daily breakfast and taxes.

July 10-13, 2019


DAY 1 - PACHACAMAC - PARACAS

After exchanging goodbyes over breakfast with your fellow eclipse watchers, set off in our private coach for a fascinating journey inland. Our first stop is Pachacamac, a vast archeological site in the Lurin River Valley. First settled nearly 2,000 year ago, this ancient pilgrimage center was dedicated to the god Pachacamac – worshipped by several early Andean peoples as the creator of the universe. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue our journey southward along the Pacific coast, crossing the Peruvian desert to arrive at the beautiful Bay of Paracas.

DATE(S): Wednesday, July 10, 2019

MEALS: Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: Aranwa Paracas or similar


DAY 2 - PACHACAMAC / PARACAS

  

After breakfast, enjoy a brief scenic journey from Paracas to nearby Ica airport, where you’ll embark– weather permitting – on your unforgettable flight over the Nazca Lines. Etched into the desert floor thousands of years ago, the lines remain visible thanks to the region’s exceptionally dry climate. Many theories have been suggested to explain their meaning and purpose, but so far there’s no firm scientific consensus. One thing is certain: the Nazca Lines are a spectacular human achievement that can only be truly appreciated from the air. The highlight of your nearly two-hour flight is a 20-minute flyover of a dozen massive images, including the monkey, the spider, the hummingbird and the astronaut. It’s a unique opportunity to try unraveling their mystery for yourself. After this unforgettable aerial tour, return to our hotel for lunch, followed by free time to enjoy the seaside resort at your leisure. Late in the afternoon, join us for an exciting dune buggy ride among the dunes of Paracas to raise our glasses to the setting sun before we return to our hotel for dinner.

DATE(S): Thursday, July 11, 2019

MEALS: Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: Aranwa Paracas or similar


DAY 3 - BALLESTAS ISLANDS - LIMA

After an early breakfast, bundle up as we head to Paracas pier for our excursion to the Ballestas Islands. A private launch whisks us across Paracas Bay – where you’re likely to spot a few friendly dolphins – to view the Candelabra geoglyph, carved into a cliff face and visible only from the sea. From there we voyage northwest to a small cluster of islands that have no human inhabitants but are home to sea lions, Humboldt penguins and hundreds of thousands of seabirds, including pelicans, cormorants, Inca terns and Peruvian boobies. In a coastal region that offers so many breathtaking sights, the Ballestas may be the highlight. (Be sure to pack a warm, waterproof jacket and hat for this excursion.) After lunch back at our hotel head back to Lima.

DATE(S): Friday, July 12, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch

ACCOMMODATIONS: DoubleTree El Pardo or similar


DAY 4 - DEPART LIMA

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then make the easy transfer to Lima airport (code: LIM) for your journey homeward.

DATE(S): Saturday, July 13, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast


Pricing

$1810 USD per person, based on two people sharing a room. $2310 USD per person for single occupancy.

  • IMPORTANT: Flight price is based upon a passenger weight of no more than 100 kg (220 lbs.). Passengers weighing above 100 kg may incur an additional price supplement. Contact TravelQuest with questions.
  • Payment is due at the time of the final payment for your eclipse tour. Once payment is received by TravelQuest it becomes fully non-refundable.

Includes

  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with baggage handling
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary + 1 hot drink and bottled water
  • Private chartered bus transportation
  • Services of an English speaking guide
  • Flight over the Nazca Lines including tax
  • Dune buggy tour with sunset refreshments
  • Ballestas Islands boating excursion
  • Bottled water days 2-4

June 28-30, 2019


CERRO TOLOLO INTERAMERICAN OBSERVATORY

  

Join TQ in La Serena, Chile for a special pre-eclipse trip visit to one of South America’s most significant professional observatories – Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, located 80 km east of La Serena, Chile, at an altitude of 2200 meters (7200 ft.). Cerro Tololo’s complex of telescopes, including the principal 4 meter Victor Blanco Telescope credited with the initial discovery of a portion of Jupiter’s retrograde moons, and other specialized instruments are among the most advanced apparatuses for astronomical research on the earth’s surface today.

DATE(S): Friday, June 28, 2019 - Sunday, June 30, 2019

MEALS: Breakfast Daily


Pricing

Cost: $695 USD per person, double occupancy; $995 USD per person, single occupancy. Rates include two nights hotel with breakfast daily, tour to Cerro Tololo Observatory with a box lunch, and hotel-airport arrival transfer from LSC (La Serena Airport.)

Payment is due at the time of the final payment for your eclipse tour. Once payment is received by TravelQuest it becomes fully non-refundable.

TRIP LEVEL

Choosing Your Ideal Trip
Level 2 – Easy/moderate: short to medium walks over uneven hilly terrain under easygoing to rugged travel conditions, with varying elevations up to 3,400 m (11,150 ft).

At TravelQuest we want to be sure you find the trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Please email or call if you have any questions regarding the itinerary.

Important

  • TravelQuest, working with our partners, makes every effort to follow the published itinerary. However, please keep in mind that it is subject to change depending on weather and other local conditions.
  • Viewing a solar eclipse is particularly weather-dependent, and as such, we can offer no guarantee that local conditions will cooperate.

Prices are per person in US Dollars based on the number of people in a room.

DOUBLE

$6,980

SINGLE

$8,380

 

Important

  • Flights from La Serena, Chile to Cuzco, Peru on July 3, and from Cuzco to Lima on July 8, and are not included in this tour cost. The additional charges for these flights will be added to your invoice in 2018.
  • All tour prices, taxes and airfares quoted in this brochure are based on tariffs, costs and United States dollar exchange rates that were in effect at the time of publication. Consequently, prices herein are subject to change. Due to fluctuations in global oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your tour fee. You will be advised of details and costs prior to departure.

Room Sharing Program

If you’re traveling solo, you can realize significant savings by taking advantage of TravelQuest’s Room Sharing Program, which matches travelers of the same gender so they can share twin-bedded accommodations. Although we’ll do our best to fulfill your request, if we can’t find a match, you’ll have to pay the single occupancy price.

 


Includes

  • Arrival (Lima, Peru) and departure (La Serena, Chile) airport transfers as per the dates of the tour
  • 10 nights accommodation as noted in the itinerary
  • Private motor coach transportation throughout your journey
  • All meals as noted in itinerary, including coffee, tea and bottled water
  • Services of an English-speaking guide and a TravelQuest trip leader
  • Gratuities for local guides while on tour
  • Special July 2 eclipse day activities
  • Eclipse viewing safety glasses
  • Custom 2019 eclipse e-sourcebooks

Not Included

  • Air travel to Lima, Peru (airport code: LIM) and from La Serena, Chile (airport code: LSC)
  • On-tour flights Lima-Cuzco, Peru on June 25, and Cuzco-La Serena, Chile on June 30. The additional cost for these flights will be added to each invoice in 2018
  • Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages and drinks other than coffee, tea and bottled water
  • Baggage handling at airports
  • Passport and visa fees
  • Items of a personal nature, laundry services, souvenirs, etc.
  • Travel insurance

Payments & Terms

  • An advance payment of $1,600 USD per person, along with the completed reservation form, are required to secure your reservation. After June 5, 2018, initial payment will be $3,000 per person.
  • A second payment in the amount of $1,400 USD per person is due by June 5, 2018.
  • Final payment is due by March 22, 2019.

Cancellation Terms

Cancellations must be in writing, by email, fax or letter.

  • All advance payments, less a $600 USD per person service fee, are refundable until July 5, 2018.
  • From July 6 to December 5, 2018, all advance payments, less a $1,800 USD per person service fee, are refundable.
  • There are no refunds after December 5, 2018.
  • Air cancellation terms are additional.

Traveler Health

It is each traveler’s responsibility to take all appropriate medical advice prior to booking as to whether or not they are fit enough to undertake this trip. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance protects you from the unexpected “what-ifs” on your travels. What if your bags go missing, what if you have to cancel, what if you need medical assistance? We at TravelQuest International recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. You may purchase this insurance on your own or you may contact our friends at Travelex who are familiar with our trips and offer a selection of coverages to suit your needs. To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, their plans must be purchased within 21 days from the time you make your initial deposit to TravelQuest. Otherwise, the plan may be purchased any time prior to departure.

For more information on these plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services direct at 1-800-228-9792, and reference location number 03-6043.

TravelEx Insurance

A Note About Fuel

In the uncertain, often volatile oil market, it is difficult to predict long-term fuel costs, and more specifically, costs at the time of the voyage. Our prices are based on the prevailing fuel rates at the time of the brochure publication, which is well in advance of departure. While we will do everything possible to maintain our prices, if fuel prices increase significantly at or before the time of the voyage, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge.

Some of our travelers share their experiences from this tour.

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TRIPS

Linda Adair

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TRIPS

Cody Carter

1
TRIPS

RUNE STJERNSTRÖM

1
TRIPS

RUBEN RODOLFO PEREZ

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TRIPS

Gary Levine